Waterproof housing for a device adapted to receive a removable sub-assembly

ABSTRACT

A waterproof housing for housing a device that is adapted to receive a sub-assembly. The waterproof housing includes a body having a wall. The wall includes an aperture. The aperture has dimensions corresponding to the sub-assembly. The aperture provides operative access to the device to allow it to receive the sub-assembly through the aperture. The waterproof housing is suitable for housing devices that may have compartments or portions which are to receive corresponding sub-assemblies. Such devices include, but are not limited to, film-based cameras that utilize film cartridges, digital imaging cameras that utilize replaceable data storage modules (RAM cards, magnetic media such as diskettes, etc.), video cameras that utilize magnetic tape cassettes, and devices that utilize batteries maintained in battery compartments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to waterproof housings for cameras andother devices that utilize sub-assemblies such as film cartridges andbatteries.

2. Description of the Art

Waterproof housings for cameras and other portable devices are wellknown. More particularly, waterproof housings for devices that utilizereplaceable or mountable sub-assemblies are also well known. Forexample, waterproof housings have been used with cameras that utilizereplaceable film cartridges.

Unfortunately, such waterproof housings do not allow sub-assemblies suchas film cartridges to be easily inserted into and removed from mainassemblies such as cameras without totally removing the main assemblyfrom such waterproof housings. In large part, the inability to remove asub-assembly from a main assembly without removing the main assemblyfrom a waterproof housing is due to the design of many main andsub-assemblies. For example, in the case of a camera (e.g., a 35 mmcamera), a film cartridge sub-assembly is often loaded into the camerabody by opening a back cover thereof to reveal an inner compartment andto enable manual operations to properly mount and load a film strip.Since opening a back cover of a camera typically involves a range ofmotion that is large relative to a camera body (e.g., a range of motionassociated with a hinged camera back), waterproof housings have beendesigned so that loading and unloading of a film cartridge sub-assemblyis to be done by removing a corresponding camera assembly.

Unfortunately, as cameras and other main assemblies have changed andimproved, waterproof housings have not realized correspondingimprovement. For example, new cameras have been designed to accept newfilm cartridge sub-assemblies. In particular, cameras that utilizeAdvanced Photo System (APS) type films and film cartridge sub-assemblieshave been mass-marketed for their “drop-in” loading characteristics. Inthe case of APS cameras, a relatively small film compartment doortypically opens at a back side or at the bottom of a camera body toreveal a relatively small film cartridge compartment. There is no needto open an entire back side of a camera body to allow for manualoperations to load a film strip. With APS cameras, film loading isautomated. Additionally, because the film compartment of an APS camerais relatively small, the risk of dust and dirt entering a camera bodywhen changing film is lower than with typical 35 mm cameras and thelike. Additionally, because film strip loading is automated, the risksassociated with fingers coming into contact with internal mechanisms ofa camera are also mitigated,

Accordingly, because assemblies like modem cameras (e.g., APS cameras,digital cameras that incorporate removable storage mediums and powersupplies) do not require large sections of their bodies to be opened toinsert and remove sub-assemblies like film cartridges, etc., currentwaterproof housings that require whole assembly removal for sub-assemblyinsertion and removal are not well suited to protect such assembliesfrom environmental conditions. An example of such an arrangement isillustrated in a drawing figure (FIG. 1) which is attached to thispatent document.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross section view of a waterproof housingthat houses an APS-type camera. In particular, a main camera assembly(camera) 101 is housed in a waterproof housing 41. Camera 101 includes alens unit 104 and has a film cartridge sub-assembly 103 mounted therein.A film compartment 102 a includes door 102 which is shown in a closedstate. Waterproof housing 41 includes a body 40, a window 44 (glass,acrylic, plastic, etc.), and a back 42. Back 42 is mounted on body 40 ina conventional way (e.g., screws, etc.). Water and other material arekept out of body 41 as a result of seals 43 and 45 which surround back42 and window 44 conventional fashion, respectively. For purposes ofclarity, photographic operations are carried out with the arrangementshown in FIG. 1, by allowing light to enter waterproof housing 41 (inthe direction identified as “p”) and to be captured and transmitted vialens unit 104 to a film substrate in camera 101.

To remove film cartridge 103 from camera 101, camera 101 must becompletely removed from waterproof housing 41 since door 102 isaccessible at the bottom of camera 101. Such operation is required inorder to gain access to film compartment 102 a via cover 102.Accordingly, each time waterproof housing 41 is opened there is a riskof allowing water and other materials to enter. For example, if filmcartridge 103 is to be removed or replaced while on a beach, sand may becaused to enter waterproof housing 41 and to possibly negatively affectthe seal that may be made by seals 43. If a watertight seal cannot bemade between back 42 and body 40, water and other material ultimatelymay enter waterproof housing 41 and interfere with or damage camera 101.

Thus, there exists a need to provide a waterproof housing for a cameraassembly which does not require the camera assembly to be removed forsub-assembly (e.g., film cartridge, etc.) insertion and removal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the preceding comments, it is a principal object of thepresent invention to solve the aforementioned problems associated withprior art waterproof housings.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a waterproofhousing that has a body having an aperture that allows operative accessto a housed device without requiring the housed device to be removedfrom the waterproof housing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a waterproofhousing that has a body having an aperture that allows a housed deviceto receive a sub-assembly through the aperture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a waterproofhousing that mitigates risks associated with water and other materialentering the housing even during times when a housed device such as acamera is to receive a sub-assembly such as a film cartridge.

The present invention achieves the aforementioned objects and deliverscertain benefits not heretofore realized in the waterproof housing arts.For example, a device housed within a waterproof housing according tothe present invention need not be removed from such housing even duringtimes when a sub-assembly like a film cartridge for a camera is to bereplaced or loaded into the housed device. Moreover, because awaterproof housing according to the present invention has an aperturethat provides operative access to a portion of a device that is adaptedto receive a sub-assembly, only a relatively small portion of thewaterproof housing will be open to an environment when the device is toreceive the sub-assembly. there is less of a risk of water and/or othermaterial entering the interior of the waterproof housing.

The present invention achieves the aforementioned objects and deliversthe above-stated benefits by providing a waterproof housing for housinga camera having film cartridge compartment and a film cartridgecompartment cover. The waterproof housing includes a body having a wall.The wall has an aperture that provides operative access to the filmcartridge compartment of the camera.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is awaterproof housing for housing an imaging device that is configured toreceive a sub-assembly related to the operation of the imaging device.The waterproof housing includes a body having a wall. The wall has anaperture that provides operative access to a portion of the imagingdevice that is configured to receive the sub-assembly which is relatedto the operation of the imaging device.

According to a final aspect of the present invention, provided is awaterproof housing for housing a device that is adapted to receive asub-assembly. The waterproof housing includes a wall. The wall has anaperture that has dimensions that correspond to the dimensions of thesub-assembly. The aperture provides operative access to the device toallow the device to receive the sub-assembly through the aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The present invention is described below with reference to the followingdrawing figures, of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section diagram of a waterproof housing according tothe prior art;

FIG. 2 is an oblique diagram of a waterproof housing for housing adevice such as a camera according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a side cross section diagram of the waterproof housingillustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is a diagram of an aperture portion of a waterproof housing anda corresponding aperture cover unit according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a cross section view of the aperture unit illustrated in FIG.4a;

FIG. 4c is a back surface view of the cover used to cover the apertureunit illustrated in FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is an oblique diagram of a waterproof housing for housing adevice such as a camera according to another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross section diagram of the waterproof housing illustratedin FIG. 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is now discussed with referenced to the drawingfigures that were briefly described above. Unless otherwise specified,like parts are referred to with like reference numerals. A descriptionof the structure of each preferred embodiment is followed by adiscussion of its corresponding operation.

In this section, preferred embodiments of a waterproof housing aredescribed. More particularly, such embodiments illustrate waterproofhousings that encase and house cameras. It should be understood,however, that housing an imaging device such as a camera is merely anexemplary use of a waterproof housing according to the presentinvention. The present invention is capable of encasing and housing awide range of assemblies and devices including, but not limited to,imaging devices like cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, etc.,portable electronic devices which have compartments for and/or utilizeremovable and/or replaceable sub-assemblies such as a film cartridges,memory cards (e.g., RAM cards), video tape cassettes and other magneticmedia (e.g., diskettes), batteries, etc.

It should also be noted that the housings illustrated and describedherein are waterproof housings which may be used to protect deviceshoused therein from coming into contact with water and/or othermaterials within a particular environment. There is no requirement,however, that the “waterproof housings” of the present invention be usedin water to realize the benefits provided by the same. To the contrary,the waterproof housings of the present invention may simply be used toprotect a device such as a camera from coming into contact withmaterials in a particular environment (e.g., dust, sand, debris, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 2, depicted therein is an oblique diagram of awaterproof housing for housing a device such as a portable cameraaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, waterproof housing 1 includes a body 10, a back 2 (FIG. 3),and a projection 10 b Body 10 has a box-like shape which is configuredto removably receive a camera 101 (shown in phantom lines). Projection10 b is adapted to receive a lens unit 104 of camera 101. A transparentwindow 4 made from glass, acrylic, plastic, etc. is maintained inprojection 10 b so as to allow imaging light to enter body 10 and totransmitted to a film or imaging surface maintained within camera 101.

The structure illustrated in FIG. 2, is further described below withregard to FIG. 3. In particular, FIG. 3 depicts a side cross sectiondiagram of the waterproof housing illustrated in FIG. 2. Moreparticularly, body 10 of waterproof housing 1 further includes awaterproof seal member 3 disposed in an edge surface of body 10.Waterproof seal 3 is intended to maintain a watertight seal between body10 and back 2. Body 10 and back 2 may be coupled together by well-knownhinges and the like (not shown).

A waterproof seal member 5 is located between the inner face side of anend portion of projection 10 b and an external peripheral end surface ofwindow 4. Window 4 will allow imaging light to pass to camera 101 In thedirection identified by the arrow labeled “p.” Waterproof seal member 5maintains a watertight seal within housing 1. Furthermore, waterproofhousing includes well-known waterproof structures to allow for operationof shutter buttons, etc.—such structures are not shown in the drawing

Camera 101 is an APS type camera that utilizes APS film cartridgesub-assemblies. Accordingly, a film cartridge 103 may be inserted intoand taken out of camera 101 and, in particular, into and out ofcompartment 102 a, after opening cover 102. It will be readily apparentand understood how film cartridge 103 is placed into compartment 102 athrough movement in the direction identified by the arrow labeled “r”(FIG. 2). Cover 102 is disposed at a bottom surface of camera 101 and isopened by a door actuator member (finger slide button) 105 (shown inphantom lines in FIG. 2) which will be immediately understood by thoseskilled in the art. Waterproof housing 1 also includes an aperture 10awhich is formed and maintained in a wall of waterproof housing 1 (e.g.,a bottom surface wall). Aperture 10 a will allow a sub-assembly likefilm cartridge 103 to be inserted into and taken out of camera 101 and,in particular, into and out of compartment 102 a without removing camera101 from waterproof housing 1.

Aperture 10 a is configured to be closed by a cover 6. Cover 6 isremovably mounted on waterproof housing 1. Cover 6 may simply beconfigured to act as a plug member that is to be mounted within aperture10 a. Alternatively, cover 6 may be configured as a round plug memberthat may be threaded and fitted into a corresponding receiving threadformed within waterproof housing 1. Cover 6 includes a waterproof sealmember 7, and has a large portion 6 b (a cap member) and a smallerportion 6 a adapted to be inserted into aperture 10 a.

When cover 6 is seated in aperture 10a of waterproof housing 1, largecircularly shaped portion 6 b (e.g., a cap member) is caused to comeinto contact with shelf member 10 d formed in body 10 of waterproofhousing 1 Accordingly, after cover 6 is screwed into or otherwisemounted within aperture 10 a, large circularly shaped portion 6 b willcome to stop at shelf member 10 d. As cover 6 is fastened withinaperture 10 a, waterproof seal member 7 will act to prevent water andother materials from entering the interior compartment of waterproofhousing 1.

It is important to note that aperture 10 a is large enough to allowcover 102 of camera 101 to be operated to allow film cartridge 103(i.e., a sub-assembly) to be inserted into and removed from compartment102 a within camera 101. Accordingly, aperture 10 a should havedimensions that are needed to have camera 101 accept or otherwisereceive a sub-assembly like film cartridge 103. In other words, ifoperative access to a film cartridge compartment is desired, aperture 10a should have dimensions that are no larger than necessary to allowoperative access to the film cartridge compartment, a door memberthereof, and some form of manual door operation mechanism and the like(if provided). Accordingly, while the back panel of the waterproofhousing of the prior art arrangement shown in FIG. 1 (discussed above)would permit operative access to a rear accessible film cartridgecompartment, such a back panel would not be considered an aperture inthe context of the present invention since there is no aperture or holeformed in such back panel through which a sub-assembly may pass andsince the size of the back panel would be overly large in relation tothe dimensions of a rear accessible film cartridge compartment.

Moreover, it is important to note that when waterproof housing 1 issubmerged in water, water pressure is applied to the cover 6. Becauselarge portion 6 b of cover 6 contacts step 10 d within aperture unit 10a, cover 6 does not get forced into waterproof housing 1.

Additionally, since aperture 10 a of waterproof housing 1 is smaller insize than the back side of waterproof housing 1, and since camera 101need not be removed from waterproof housing 1 merely to change film orbatteries, etc., there is less of a chance of water and other unwantedmaterial entering the interior areas of waterproof housing 1 when filmcartridge 103 needs to be loaded or unloaded.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, camera 101 allows for film cartridge loading from thebottom of a camera housing. The present invention is not so restrictedwhen it is applied to camera assemblies, or otherwise. To the contrary,it is quite possible to configure and form waterproof housing 1 so thataperture 10 a is positioned relative to the location of a correspondingsub-assembly compartment (e.g., a film cartridge compartment). Forexample, in the case of camera having a side or back accessible filmcartridge compartment, a waterproof housing can be configured to have acorresponding aperture formed in its casing/body member. Moreover,although waterproof housing 1 is shown to have only one aperture whichis associated with the film cartridge compartment 102 a of camera 101,it is possible to form body 10 of waterproof housing 1 to one or moreadditional apertures which may be associated with other aspects of themain assembly that is to be housed in waterproof housing 1. For example,apertures (and corresponding covers for the same) may be included andprovided which allow batteries and other sub-assemblies (e.g.,penta-prism units for SLR type cameras, memory cards for digital imagingcameras, etc.) to be replaced within a main assembly without requiringthe main assembly to be removed from a waterproof housing.

Accordingly, it should be understood that when cover 6 covers and closesaperture 10 a, camera 101 will be completely housed in waterproofhousing 1. When cover 6 is not mounted within aperture 10 a and aperture10 a is open to reveal only that portion of camera 101 sufficient toallow loading and unloading of film cartridge 103, camera 101 is stillsubstantially housed and encased within waterproof housing 1.

In operation, waterproof housing 1 allows camera 101 to be insertedtherein to be protected from water and other materials which mayotherwise damage or interfere with the operation of camera 101. Aftercamera 101 is inserted and mounted within body 10, back 2 may besecurely positioned to enclose camera 101 in a water-safe environment.If film cartridge 103 is to be inserted into or removed from camera 101while camera 101 is housed in waterproof housing 1, cover 6 may beremoved from its secure, seated position (via unscrewing the same in thecase when cover 6 is threaded, removing the same when cover 6 is held inplace by way of its dimensional characteristics relative to aperture 10a, etc.) to reveal access to door actuator member 105 and to cover 102of film cartridge compartment 102 a. By manually operating door actuatormember 105, cover 102 will be caused to open to reveal access to filmcompartment 102 a for film cartridge assembly insertion and removal.Because aperture 10 a will allow cover 102 to open and freely movetherein, there will be no compromise of motion relative to theparticular design specifications of cover 102.

After film cartridge 103 has either been removed from or inserted intofilm compartment 102 a, cover 6 may be replaced into aperture 10 a andcaused to be removably mounted therein. Since, cover 6 only will reveala relatively small opening within body 10 of waterproof housing 1, thereis less of a risk of water and other materials entering the interiorcompartment of waterproof housing 1 than if back 2 had to be removedfrom body 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 4a, 4 b, and 4 c, depicted therein are views ofan alternative embodiment of an aperture of a waterproof housing and acorresponding aperture cover unit. In particular, an aperture 30 ofwaterproof housing 1 is formed and disposed in a back side 10 c thereof.A step or stopping shelf 30 a (circularly shaped) is formed and disposedtoward back side 10 c in aperture 30. A pair of slots 31 are formeddisposed as notches in mutually opposite positions in aperture 30. Slots31 are formed and disposed to receive a locking member 26 c of a cover26. As shown in FIGS. 4b and 4 c, cover 26 is equipped with a largecircularly shaped part 26 a, a small circularly shaped part 26 b, andlocking member 26 c which Is integrally formed with small part 26 b. Awaterproof seal member 27 is located in an outer periphery of smallcircularly shaped part 26 b to maintain a water tight seal when cover 26is removably mounted in aperture 30. Cover 26 is configured to rotatewithin aperture 30. Locking member 26 c of cover 26 is configured tofacilitate manual operation thereof.

In operation, and when cover 26 is removably mounted to cover aperture30, the locking member 26 c of cover 26 is maintained in the slots 31formed in aperture 30. Additionally, large circularly shaped part 26 aof cover 26 is caused to come into contact with step 30 a withinaperture 30. Accordingly, when cover 26 is caused to rotate withinaperture 30, locking member 26 c will slide on the inner surface 10e ofwaterproof housing 1. As such, cover 26 closes the aperture unit 30,while locking member 26 c locks and prevents cover 26 from inadvertentlybecoming dislodged or removed from aperture 30 such as during knocks andmovement of waterproof housing 1. When turned to a state where cover 26is locked in place by locking member 26 c, waterproof seal member willprovide a water tight seal and prevent water and other material fromentering waterproof housing 1.

To remove cover 26 from aperture 30, a reversal of the operations justdescribed is to be performed.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, depicted therein is an oblique diagramof a waterproof housing for housing a portable assembly such as a cameraaccording to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Asmany of the structures illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 are the same asthose illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, a discussion of the same is omitted.

Here, a housing 11, is configured with body 10 and a back 12. Awatertight state is maintained as a result of the operation of awaterproof seal member 3 disposed between body 10 and back 12. A camera201 is removably mounted in housing 1i.

Camera 201 includes a lens unit 205, and is configured to receiveAPS-type film cartridge 103. Film cartridge 103 is intended to beinserted into a film cartridge compartment 202 a. Film cartridgecompartment 202 a is accessible behind a cover 202 disposed at the backof camera 201. A door opening member 205 is disposed at a position nearcover 202. Door opening member is operated in a typical way by manuallypressing and/or moving the same. A viewfinder window 12 a of camera 201is operatively accessible through the material which forms waterproofhousing (e.g., clear plastic, acrylic, etc.). Camera 201 may beremovably mounted in body 10 by well-known securing structures andtechniques.

When waterproof housing 11 houses camera 201 and back 12 is securely andremovably mounted on waterproof housing 11, an aperture 12 a is disposedin back 12 (i.e., in the wall formed by back 12). Aperture 12 a ispositioned relative to cover 202 of camera 201. Aperture 12 a isconstituted in a rectangular form, and is of a size that will facilitateloading and unloading of film cartridge 103 into and out of filmcartridge compartment 202 a of camera 201 as if camera 201 were notencased within waterproof housing 11 and without interfering with thenormal operation of cover 202. Accordingly, aperture 12 a will allowfilm cartridge 103 to be inserted in to film cartridge compartment 202 aby operation in a normal direction relative to camera 201 and in thedirection identified by the arrow labeled “S”.

In aperture 12 a, a step or stopping shelf 12 b is formed toward thesurface of back 12. A cover 16, is formed and configured to fit intoaperture 12 a to close aperture 12 a. Cover 16 has a cross sectionalform which corresponds to the cross sectional form of aperture 12 aincluding a corresponding formation to accommodate or be stopped fromslipping into waterproof housing 11 by step 12 b. A waterproof sealmember 17 is located in the exterior periphery of an inner portion 16 aof cover 16 to maintain the watertight state of the waterproof housing11.

In operation, film cartridge 103 is inserted into camera 201 by firstremoving cover 16 from back 12 of body 10 to reveal aperture 12 a.Thereafter, door operating member 205 may be manually operated to opencover 202 to gain access to film cartridge compartment 202 a. Filmcartridge 103 may be removed from camera 201 in similar fashion.Accordingly, like the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is notnecessary to remove camera 201 from waterproof housing 11 to gain accessto a removable sub-assembly such as a film cartridge, etc.

In the embodiments described above, waterproof housing 1 has a box-likeshape. Such a shape has been arranged to match the shape of theexemplary portable assemblies and devices (e.g., cameras) that have beenused to illustrate the features of the present invention. The presentinvention, however, is not so limited. In fact, a waterproof housingaccording to the present invention may take on any shape that suitsparticular design requirements such as spheres, etc. In all cases, awaterproof housing according to the present invention may now have awall (e.g., a flat wall in the case of a box-like shaped housing, aspherical or rounded wall in the case of a spherically shaped housing,etc.) that has an aperture formed therein which will provide operativeaccess to a housed assembly for insertion, removal or otherwisereception of a sub-assembly and which has dimensions that relate to thecorresponding dimensions of the sub-assembly.

Thus, having fully described the present invention by way of examplewith reference to the attached drawing figures, it will be readilyappreciated that many changes and modifications may be made to theinvention and to the embodiments shown and/or described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention which isdefined in and covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waterproof housing adapted to removably receivea camera having film cartridge compartment and a film cartridgecompartment cover, comprising: a body having at least two apertures, oneaperture being a first aperture which allows the camera to be insertedand removed, and another aperture being a second aperture providingoperative access to said film cartridge compartment of said cameras saidfirst aperture being disposed in a first surface of said body, saidsecond aperture being disposed in a second surface of said body, saidfirst surface being substantially perpendicular to said second surface;and at least two cover members for closing each of said at least twoapertures and for preventing water from passing through each of said atleast two apertures.
 2. The waterproof housing according to claim 1,wherein said second aperture is disposed in a bottom wall of saidwaterproof housing.
 3. The waterproof housing according to claim 1,wherein said second aperture is disposed in a side wall of saidwaterproof housing.
 4. The waterproof housing according to claim 1,wherein said second aperture has dimensions that are substantially thesame as corresponding dimensions of said film cartridge compartment. 5.The waterproof housing according to claim 1, wherein said film cartridgecompartment of said camera is configured to receive a film cartridgehaving a particular width dimension, said second aperture having adimension corresponding to said width dimension of said film cartridge.6. The waterproof housing according to claim 1, wherein said secondaperture has dimensions corresponding to dimensions of said filmcartridge compartment cover.
 7. The waterproof housing according toclaim 1, wherein said cover members further comprise seal members forsealing said waterproof housing when said cover members cover said firstand second apertures.
 8. The waterproof housing according to claim 1,wherein said cover members further comprise locking members for lockingsaid cover members to said waterproof housing when said cover memberscover said first and second apertures, said first and second aperturesbeing configured to permit said locking members to be inserted into saidwaterproof housing.
 9. A waterproof housing adapted to removably receivean imaging device configured to receive a sub-assembly related to theoperation of said imaging device, said waterproof housing comprising: abody having a first aperture allowing said imaging device to beremovably inserted into said body, and a second aperture providingoperative access to a portion of said imaging device configured toreceive said sub-assembly related to the operation of said imagingdevice, said first aperture being disposed in a first surface of saidbody, said second aperture being disposed in a second surface of saidbody, said first surface being substantially perpendicular to saidsecond surface; and two cover members corresponding to said first andsecond apertures for covering said first and second apertures and forpreventing water from passing through said first and second apertures.10. The waterproof housing according to claim 9, wherein said secondaperture is disposed in a rear wall of said waterproof housing.
 11. Thewaterproof housing according to claim 9, wherein said second aperture isdisposed in a bottom wall of said waterproof housing.
 12. The waterproofhousing according to claim 9, wherein said second aperture is disposedin a side wall of said waterproof housing.
 13. The waterproof housingaccording to claim 9, wherein said second aperture has dimensions thatare substantially the same as corresponding dimensions of said portionof said imaging device that is configured to receive said sub-assemblyrelated to the operation of said imaging device.
 14. The waterproofhousing according to claim 9, wherein said imaging device is a digitalcamera and said portion of said imaging device is a data storage modulecompartment, said second aperture providing operative access to saiddata storage module compartment.
 15. The waterproof housing according toclaim 9, wherein said portion of said imaging device is a batterycompartment, said second aperture providing operative access to saidbattery compartment.
 16. The waterproof housing according to claim 9,wherein said cover members further comprise seal members for sealingsaid waterproof housing when said cover members cover said first andsecond apertures.
 17. The waterproof housing according to claim 9,wherein said cover members further comprise locking members for lockingsaid cover members to said waterproof housing when said cover memberscover said first and second apertures, said first and second aperturesbeing configured to permit said locking members to be inserted into saidwaterproof housing.
 18. The waterproof housing according to claim 9,wherein said second aperture is smaller than said first aperture andsaid sub-assembly is an image data recording medium.
 19. The waterproofhousing according to claim 9, wherein said second aperture is smallerthan said first aperture and said sub-assembly is a battery.
 20. Awaterproof housing adapted to removably receive a device adapted toreceive a sub-assembly, said waterproof housing comprising: a bodyhaving a first aperture allowing said device to be removably insertedinto said body, and a second aperture providing operative access to aportion of said device configured to receive said sub-assembly relatedto the operation of said device, said first aperture being disposed in afirst surface of said body, said second aperture being disposed in asecond surface of said body, said first surface being substantiallyperpendicular to said second surface; and two cover memberscorresponding to said first and second apertures for covering said firstand second apertures and for preventing water from passing through saidfirst and second apertures.
 21. The waterproof housing according toclaim 20, wherein said cover members further comprise seal members forsealing said waterproof housing when said cover members cover said firstand second apertures.
 22. The waterproof housing according to claim 20,wherein said cover members further comprise locking members for lockingsaid cover members to said waterproof housing when said cover memberscover said first and second apertures, said first and second aperturesbeing configured to permit said locking members to be inserted into saidwaterproof housing.